Christopher g



(No Model.)

0. G. DODGE.

TAP HOLE PLUG. No. 397,889. Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

Qvilucmco.

KMMV MW.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER (l. DODGE, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y., ASSIGNOR 'It) .IOHX I). BROWN, 0F SAME PLACE.

TAP-HOLE PLUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,839, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed May 23, 1888. Serial No. 274,807. (No model.)

l t y This invention relates to an improved plug E for the tap or faucet holes .of kegs for beer and other liquids, to be used in place of more i expensive corks heretofore in use for this purpose; and the invention consists of a tap-hole plug made of a tubular piece of wood having a compressed web at one end and compressed side walls, which latter expand by the action of the liquid in the keg when the plug is driven with its tubular end foremost into the tap or faucet hole. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a port-ion of the head of a keg, showing my improved taphole plug in posit-ion in the hole of the same. Figs. 2, I3, and 4 are vertical central sections of my improved tap-hole plug, showing it in different stages of its manufacture; and Fig. I

5 is a vertical section of the same, showing the structural changes produced in the same by the different compressions to which the plug is exposed. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a tap-hole plug, which is made of wood and intended to be used in place of the-corks heretofore employed for closing the tap or faucet holes of kegs and barrels. The plug A is made with a tubular portion, (I, the side walls of which are compressed by suitable dies, while the solid web or head (I of the plug is comprwscd at its middle portion, but left in its uncompressed s1 ate at its circumference. The plug A is made from a conically-tapering blank, A, which is made like a hung, in a machine for making bungs, and then placed into a suitable compressing-die, which compresses the wider portion of the blank A, so

is simultaneously compressed at its center by a suitable die, after which the end is bored out by a suitable cutter, so that a plug of the shape shown in Fig. is obtained, in which the side walls as well as the middle portion of the web are compressed, while the circumference of the web remains in its uncompressed state, as indicated in Fig. 5, in which the structural changes imparted by different compressions of the plug are indicated. When the tap-hole plug is to be used, itis driven with the tubular portion foremost into the tap-hole of the keg. By the action of the liquid on the compressed side walls the saine expand and produce the tight closing of the plug in the taphole, so that no leakage can take place. For tapping the keg the plug has tov be driven into the keg by the open end of the faucet, which is readily accomplished, as the uncompressed circumference of the web of the plug gives sufficiently to permit of driving in witlr out too great an effort. The tapping of the keg is thus rendered just as easy as with the cork plugs used for closing the tap-holes of barrels and kegs, while the plugs can be manufactured at a much lower rate than the cork plugs.

Having thus described my inventi0n,I claim as new and desire to secure I I y Letters Patente A tap-hole plug made of wood tubular at one end and with a. solid web at the other end, the side wall of the tubular port loll and the central portion of the web being compressed, while the circumferential portion of the web is left in uncompressed state, sub stantially as set forth.

In testimony that lclaim the foregoing as my invention Ihave signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OHRIS'IOIHER G. DODGE.

W] in esses:

CARL KARI, SIDNEY MANN. 

